I was referring to travelling on the east side of Deer up into the main channel at Tomohawk. We tried it on Sunday but it was open water right across from Beausoliel to where ’69′ channel starts…turned around. If you take the trail at the north end of Roberts Bay overland it comes out at the staked line that leads up to Cognashene….lots of traffic on it on Sunday. Our cottage is in Little Bass Bay and the trail you speak of would likely have started near there….I have not seen any snowmobile tracks in the last few years. The trails are there, we have walked to Bearshead in the summer a few times.

You mentioned in your post about going “north behind Deer Island”. Just wondering if you were travelling along the edge of Deer Island Channel to get to the main channel near Tomahawk or are you referring to a trail that takes you north thru Bearshead Lake? I’m not sure if anyone breaks that trail anymore. About 30 years ago, we would run from the north side of the Deer Island Channel to Bearshead Lake and you could continue north back out onto the bay. It would come out between Powwow Island and Maltby Island (just south of Good Harbour) Cheers

Yesterday, I ran about the same route that Ken mentioned and yes, you have to be careful. The ice is nothing close to where it should be at this time of year. Avoid Pleasant Point in North Bay. Also in North Bay, take a route between the mainland on the west side and the islands in the centre. There was a small open spot in between the islands in the centre. We also ran from North Bay up to Bone Island (Palasade Bay) going thru Buck and McCrae lakes. Buck and McCrae Lakes seemed fine. The passage between Mermaid Island and Bone Island, which never really freezes, was a much larger open area than usual. We were going to venture further north across Bone Island to Hockey Stick Bay and then to Longuisa Bay but we heard from some locals that there are some open water spots just west of that route. We also heard about 2 or 3 open water areas between the top of Big Beau to Cognashene, mostly a bit east of this route near Big Ship Island. Probably better to wait for a good run of cold weather. (if it ever comes!!) Safest ride might be from Town Centre across Roberts Island and then to Big Beau and do the trail on Big Beau. (I’m assuming your in Honey Harbour ??) This is as of yesterday though before today’s balmy temps so be careful!

Eric S.

I was up there this past weekend…no trails to speak of, but lots of ice running. I came in from Penetang along Beausoliel, up to Roberts Bay and into the town centre. The back way thru North Bay, behind Charlies cut and north behind deer island. There are lots of open water spots….seemed like spring riding conditions with the currents. You can run the ice but need to be careful where you are going.